Insulin Pumps – TSA Responds

Many of you read my recent post about the downright unnecessary experience I endured at Washington Dulles International last week. The folks that monitor Twitter.com for TSA were kind enough to provide a link to TSA’s website to submit feedback, and I took them up on the opportunity. Today, I received what appeared to be a reply crafted by an actual person. I will post it here in its entirety minus the name of the individual who sent the email.

Dear Mr. Jackson

I am the Customer Service Manager at Washington Dulles International
Airport for TSA. Your message regarding your recent travel through
Dulles was forwarded to me for review.
First of all, let me apologize for any inconvenience you encountered.
Our goal is to provide efficient, effective and courteous screening of
passengers as they pass through our checkpoint. Many of our procedures
can be a hassle for you, and can be looked upon as a nuisance. That is
clearly not our intention. Our main objective is to provide maximum
security for all our passengers, and to do so with understanding and
consideration for the traveling public.

Our screening procedures are specific and do include screening of
insulin pumps. The fact that the process may differ can be attributed
to several factors, including size and location of the device.
Effective December 22, 2005 Transportation Security Officers began
conducting additional screening procedures on randomly selected
passengers. The additional screening procedures created a more complex
and less predictable system for those who wish to circumvent our system.
Passengers are randomly selected for an additional search, even if they
do not trigger an alarm as they pass through the metal detector. This
search could be a hand-wanding, a pat-down, explosives screening or a
search of the person’s carry-on bag. By design, a traveler is not likely
to experience that same search every time he or she files.

We understand and regret any discomfort and inconvenience you
experienced as a result of the additional screening procedures.
Nevertheless, we believe that these security measures are necessary and
appropriate for ensuring the safety and confidence of all air travelers.
Furthermore, TSA continues to develop and deploy new technologies,
including document scanners, trace portals, and backscatter devices to
address the explosives threat.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns. We take your comments
seriously, and appreciate your feedback . It provides us with an
opportunity to focus our efforts on areas that need improvement and are
of importance to the traveling public.

And there you have it. I’m still not pleased, but at least I received what I feel to be a response that was not computer generated. I did reply to the email, because I wanted to make sure the sender knew that it was very clear to me that I was sent to secondary screening specifically because I was wearing an insulin pump. Perhaps the security officer who performed the additional screening was attempting to fill his quota for explosive trace detection tests for the day, I dunno. The fact that every square millimeter of my belongings, including the palms of my hands, were tested for traces of explosives just because I wear an insulin pump was overkill, plain and simple.

Marshall Jackson is an aviation enthusiast and avid cruiser. Throughout high school and college he continued to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot obtaining his commercial pilot’s license at age 19. After college Marshall started his professional flying career as a Jetstream, and later Saab first officer with a regional airline. Grounded by Type 1 Diabetes in 1996, Marshall transitioned into operations management at one of the world’s largest airlines performing safety and compliance audits at airline and vendor facilities worldwide. Applying the skills gained in that position, Marshall moved into airport operations management at one of his airline’s busiest airports. After 10 years in the airline business, Marshall moved on to a new career that includes plenty of travel and plenty of cruises, and that’s just the way he likes it.

That’s really interesting. When I was screened, I had the impression that they were going to do these extra procedures every time because I had an insulin pump. It sounds like TSA may need to pass on the message to their screeners then that this is to be a “random” process, because otherwise their policy sounds like it *will* be a hassle every time I fly. Thanks for sharing this information!

Read the customer service response carefully and it does not say what the standard procedure is. Thus, it still may be that they can pull us out and do what they did to Marshall to all of us.

Ian

Sometimes you have to wonder about airport security… a couple of years ago I worked close to Darwin airport’s terminal and would often wander up to the terminal to get a coffee in the morning when the terminal was quiet. This involved going thru security as the coffee shop was on the secure side. The security officers all knew me as I would come and go frequently, and would often give me the explosives swab so they could get their quota of “random” swabs done when the terminal was quiet so that they didn’t need to do it at peak period. Clever.

Michelle

I have just returned today from San Francisco to LAX. My experience with the TSA search for both the outbound and return trip at both airports resulted in both a wand scan and “pat down”. I had the explosive “swab” on a previous flight. At LAX, before entering the walk thru, I informed the TSA personnel that I was wearing an insulin pump and even held it in my hand to show them before placing it back under my sweater.I was immediately sent to another area between two glass plates and then to the “fishbowl” for the search. Before leaving the walk thru area, was asked if I had other belongings other than what was scanned on the belt and if I was traveling with anyone else. I expected to be scanned but at LAX, I was not initially wand-scanned but physically “patted” down. I asked why was she patting me and not scanning me. The lady replied because they said the alarm went off. I did not go through the walk through so I do not know where the alarm went off. I stood there while she back hand rubbed me between my legs, on my buttocks, under my breasts, down my back under my arms down my legs out in public view. Leaving San Francisco, I again,informed TSA that I was wearing an insulin pump. I was again sent behind 2 glass plates and then moved to the “fishbowl” for the search. This time I was scanned with the wand. I thought to myself, no problem. But once again, the TSA person now begins to back hand pat me down from neck to feet, front and back, between my legs and down my behind and under my breast. Is the “pat down” necessary when a person has already declared they are wearing a medical device? I understand the necessity of passenger screening but I view the actions of these individuals as “overkill” due to lack of training, awareness and a Rambo attitude.

Cindy Leacox

I fly regularly (with my insulin pump), in fact I only spent 4 months at home last year. I have NEVER been asked to step aside for a special screening because of my insulin pump until yesterday (28Jan2010). I offered them information about the device thinking that maybe they did not understand what it was and the person brought over a supervisor who would not discuss it with me nor would she take the information from me. Again, I have not had this experience at any airport prior to yesterday at MLI.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the reasons for the screening processes but in this case it is a waste of my time and our tax dollars. It seems some training about the device would be useful for TSA.

Thanks for reading. I haven’t had a screening experience like the one I got at IAD since. I have been sent to secondary, had my pump and hands swabbed for explosive trace detecting, and then been promptly sent on my way.

I believe TSA is randomly selecting insulin pump wearers for enhanced screening, and I guess I’m fine with that….to a point. But that IAD screening experience was over the top, unnecessary, and a waste of my time and TSA’s.

Jan

I had the same long process, but can take it a step further. I was flying out of Eastern Iowa Airport on February 19, 2010. I set off the alarm the first time, and I and my carry-ons were completing searched and swabbed. The flight took off and turned around due to landing gear issues. We were directed back to the airline’s desk to re-set up. We then went back through security, and my pump did not alarm. Unfortunately, the TSA security person saw the pump and pulled my out of line. I had a second full body and carry-on search and swab down. The person doing the carry-on search was the same person who had performed it the first time. When we complained to the TSA supervisor, we were told that it was the rules. The first time that it happened, I accepted it. At least TSA doesn’t try to make me take off my pump (the airline tried that once in 2002). But the second time in less than an hour with the same personnel was insulting and humiliating.

The next day, we proceeded through TSA in LAX with a great deal of trepidation. Not only did I not alarm, they didn’t perform any additional searches.

I’m now getting ready to take my return trip home. I was searching to see if there was a way to remove my pump and pass it through for swabbing separately, so that at least I and my carry-ons could be spared.

I think they’ve decided to pull pumpers at random. At least that’s the way it’s been working so far for me. Recently, TSA announced that it would start swabbing the palms of all travelers at random for traces of explosives, so everyone is going to get a taste of the fun.

Since my IAD experience, I’ve been pulled for limited secondary from time to time with a swab of the pump and my hands. Nothing nearly as intrusive, unnecessary, and wasteful of security resources as I got at Dulles that day.

jack

I travel often out of Phoenix. Phoenix requires that I go thru full screening every time I go thru a checkpoint. This not only includes wand and patdown but swabing of everything. I complain when they dump out my insulin and emergency needles onto unsterile carts and touch with their dirty gloves. But no other airport does this same treatment. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to find out why the special treatment. The published regulations say that insulin pumps and supplies are allowed. I believe they are discriminating in the Phoenix airport against diabetics. No other disability gets such thorough screening. Has anyone else found this unequal treatment. I have never been screen in National Airport in DC.

Pauline

Hi Everyone
So glad I found this website. I too had a very bad experience at Phoenix. Security announced over the tannoy “insulin pump user female security” Three yes three large ladies rushed towards me. I was completely taken aback by this. All my belongings that had already gone thru the xray were taken. A fourth male security guard then went thru my handbag.
I was wanded several times it pinged constantly. I had shown my pump but it still pinged. Its probably my underwire bra I said. No response from the guard. More ping at my lower leg, “inplant” the guard said several times, no! its all me I meekly replied. At the pat down a wrinkle in my T.shirt caused excitement. “Whats this” I really had to concentrate very hard not to be sarcastic so I just said T.shirt. Finally half an hour later I was permitted to leave After my pump was swabbed. What I find confusing they didn’t seem interested in my pump at all.
I registered my complaint with the TSA and had very nice emails back> They confirmed that this was going to be the treatment to expect from Phoenix.

Jenny

I just recently started on the pump and today was my first experience going through the airport with it. I flew out of Phoenix Sky Harbor. My three trays of belongings successfully went through the X-ray machine. I thought I would follow advice I saw online and told the TSA person that I was wearing a pump. As soon as I told her about the pump she had me walk through the metal detector and go to the glass bubble area. I did not set off the alarm as I walked through. However, I was then patted down, my pump was swabbed, and then every carry-on belonging I had was brought over and swabbed for explosives. I mean every single item i.e. my cell phone, my shoes, my meter, my kleenex, etc. This after the same items had already gone through the X-Ray machine and not been flagged. I was surprised that every item had to be swabbed after going through the X-Ray just because I was wearing a pump so I questioned the TSA rep at the customer service desk. He proceeded to tell me that TSA directives at Sky Harbor were that every pump wearing passenger not only got patted down, but every carry on item also had to be swabbed. I pointed out the inconsistency given that when I was not on a pump, the same items I had today went through the X-Ray and were never swabbed. The only difference was that I had a pump attached to my body…which did not impact my belongings. He was not at all receptive and told me that was policy. I honestly am shocked that I will have to go through this every time I fly out of Sky Harbor. I feel like I was treated like a criminal just because I was wearing a pump. I mean the patting down fine, but swabbing every item individually? I feel like I need to complain or do something because this will happen to me every time I fly as per the TSA rep…has anyone else flying out of Phoenix had this experience?

Jenny, thanks for commenting. I have received similar treatment at Phoenix. They were very polite about the whole thing, though. PHX is one of several airports where you are more likely than not to be subjected to full secondary each time you fly just because you wear an insulin pump. Be patient and polite with the screeners as they are only following a policy created by their superiors. But do complain to the TSA each time you are subjected to this wasteful exercise. A close inspection and swab of the pump and perhaps your hands are enough. Searching every square inch of your belongings is overkill.

Angie Grant

I have gone through additional screenings for setting off the alarms but on Friday October 8th I was pulled to the side and told specifically that I was going to be subjected through additional screening “because you are wearing an insulin pump.” by St. Louis, MO TSA- I don’t believe I set the alarm off. Everything I had was gone through, everything was swabbed down including my hands, shoes etc. My luggage was gone through while my boss stood behind me and watched. (Nothing like your undies & bras being pulled out while your boss stands there.) Is this not discrimination? I am all for them being careful, heck even pulling people at random; it’s a pain but it’s for our safety but when you actually tell me you are pulling me out because I wear an insulin pump makes me wonder what the TSA has against diabetics. Just a month ago I went through Denver airport & set the alarm off and they did a pat down and asked to look at the back of my pump but that was it, nothing like what St. Louis TSA did. Any suggestions?

‘fraid not Angie. You can do like I recently did at Dulles and take the pump off and place it in a bin for x-ray. I certainly understand why many might not want to do that, myself included, but it saved me the hassle of secondary cavity search.

E Towery

Just flew for the first time since 1998. Wearing an insulin pump and both days I flew I showed my pump at security. Got my hands and pump swabbed for explosives in Knoxville airport. Minor inconvenience. Returning from Seattle, I was pulled aside, all my belongings swabbed, I was wanded and patted down and, yes, screamed at as I was cooperating. I have flown many many times and my gut reaction is that unless a family member is dying, airlines and airports will never receive another cent of my money. There is no pleasure trip worth going through the treatment I received in Seattle’s airport.

Wow. I’m sorry to hear about your experience. Seattle is one airport where I am ALWAYS absconded for full secondary search due to the pump. However, I’ve certainly never been rudely treated because of it. If I’m casually dressed, I’m just going to disconnect my pump from now on when flying through Seattle and the other airports that routinely go overboard on pump screening. Ridiculous, I know, but I am not going to put up with the senseless secondary search.

Ashleigh Munson

I wear my pump on my bra, where it is not visible to anyone. I’ve thought about just detaching it and sending it on the trays to avoid the whole mess, but I have no idea if that’s safe for the pump, or what the screener would say seeing it under xray.

Todd

Pump user for over one year. Have only gone through security six times. More annyoing than anything. All I do is let TSA know I have a pump and they pull be aside and do a pat down.